Israel Identifies Deceased Hostage Tal Haimi, Names 15 Bodies Remaining in Gaza
Israel has confirmed the identity of the remains of a deceased hostage recovered from Gaza as Sgt. Maj. Tal Haimi, the commander of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team. Haimi, 41, was killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre while defending his kibbutz. His body was taken into Gaza and held hostage for over two years until it was officially declared deceased on Dec. 13, 2023.
The identification of Haimi’s remains marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to repatriate the bodies of deceased hostages. Haimi was a third-generation descendant of the kibbutz’s founders and a fourth-generation resident, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His family had initially believed he was taken alive, but Israel confirmed his death on Dec. 13, 2023.
The Israeli military has also highlighted its ongoing campaign to secure the release of all remaining deceased hostages. Following the identification of Haimi’s remains, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressed condolences for his family and reiterated Israel’s demand for Hamas to return all deceased hostages for proper burial. The IDF echoed this call, stating that Hamas must fulfill its obligations under the agreement brokered by the Trump administration.
As of now, 15 deceased hostages, including U.S. citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, remain in Gaza. One of these is Hadar Goldin, whose remains have been held in the enclave since he was killed in battle in 2014. The final 20 living hostages returned to Israel on Oct. 13, 2025, after more than two years in captivity, leaving only the remains of the 28 deceased hostages to be retrieved. The process of repatriating the 28 deceased hostages has been slow and complex, with Israeli officials acknowledging the need for continued diplomatic and military efforts to secure the release of the remaining bodies.